Capstan



F. BELT July 11, 1933.

CAPSTAN Filed July 16, 1929 INVENTOR. l F. 56M .n BY fifa/ Wa@ A TTORNEYS.-

Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES FRANZ BELT, GF VIENNA, AUSTRIA CAPSTAN Application ied July 16, 1929, Serial No. 378,725, and in Austria July 20, 1828.

his invention relates to improvements in capstans. The usual capstan as used on ships and in harbours consists essentially of a revolvable drum, around which several turns of the tow-rope are made. rChe free end of the tow-rope must then be submitted to a certain continuous tension in order to maintain the friction necessary to hold or haul the load. Thissimple type of capstan is rendered unsuitable for transportable use by its great weight, and by the fact that it requires at least two men to operate it-'one to man the capstan itself and another to maintain the tension of the free end of thept-ow rope.

.15 The object of the present invention is to provide an easily transportable capstan, which can be carried, mounted, and operated by one man, so that it can be carried for instance on board vehicles of all kinds, especially motor-cars and lorries, ready for use in the case of emergency to overcome obstacles or for salvage work. This object is at tained in principle by providing pressure rollers which automatically clamp the running-out end of the tow-rope and which are pressed against the capstan drum by means of carrier rollers, the pressure of the latter on the pressure rollers and through these on the capstan drum being exercised by the pull of the loadV on the tow-rope, which is wound round both the capsta-n drum and the carrier rollers. Vlin order to provide the necessary pressure before the load is taken upa pressure device for hand operation is provided. After withdrawing this initial pressure and releasing the ratchet of the capstan drum, the rope can be drawn through the apparatus in either direction to any extent, for the purpose ofY hanging on the load and taking up 0 slack.

The capstan device is illustrated by the drawing in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the capstan case,l Fig. Qis a sectional view with the covering plate removed, and

Fig. 3 is a. view in perspective of the whole apparatus combined kwith pulley-blocks as set for work.

Asshown in Figs. 1 and 2 the apparatus consists of a case 1, within which the capstan drum 2 is easily revolvable on an'axle "running back under load by means of the cessible. The pawl is spring pressed as in 3, through the ball-bearing 4,*one end ofthe capstan drum Zbeing provided with a square head 5 projecting through the cover of the case, and which can be turned by hand by means of a. crank. rlwo freely revolvable.5 rollers 7 and one keyed pressure roller 7 are engageable with the drum 2k and are mounted on an axle 6, which is mounted in slots 1 in the case 1 so as to be slidable in a direction at right angles to the axle of the capstan drum. At the side of the axle 6 opposite the axle 3 and in line with the two latter axles an axle 8 is mounted in the casing 1. Two carrier rollers 9 are keyed on the axle 8 and intermediate rollers 9 are loosely mounted on the axle 8. y.Forthe purpose'of moving the axle 8 in the case 1 a carriage 10 is provided, in which the axle 8 is firmly held and which is pressed in the direction of the capstan drum 2' by means of a spiral spring 11, which is supported by the cover 1a of the case 1. The pressing action of this spring can be withdrawn by mea-ns of the vtension screw 12 which is revolvably connected to the carriage 10r and can be tightened by means of the butterfly-screw 13 thus Vcompressing the spiral spring 11 and reducing the pressure on the axle 8, so that the latter becomes freely slidable in the slots 1 of the case 1. To ensure its guidance in the case the carriage 10 is provided with lugs 10 which engage' in parallel slots 1 of the casing 1.

yThe capstan drum 2 is prevented from usual type of ratchet wheel 14 and pa-wl 15 which latter is pivoted at 15a and provided with a finger hold 15?) projecting through 'an arcuate slot so as to be conveniently acdicated at 150. y

The case 1 is fastened to the ground by means of a stirrup 16 provided with eyes 16 in line with the eye 3 ofthe capstan axle 3, by means of which the case connected to the tubular carrying support 17. This support is fitted intobearing brackets 18, which are provided with slanting holes through which pegs or nails 19 can be driven, thus anchoring the apparatus securely to the i is uuabiy ground. Connected at right angles to the tubular ground-support 17' is a similar support 20 which is also provided with slanting holes for pegs or nails. The case 1 is further provided with a back support 22 connected to it with a hinge joint 21 and possessing at its free end a. clamping device, b y means of which it can be slid along the ground support 20 and clamped thereto at any required point. By adjustment of the back support 22 the case l can be tilted about the axle 17 to any required angle, so that the,

capstan axle 3 can always be set at right angles to the direction which the tow-rope takes up under load. In F ig. 3 the capstan case is shown in a raised position; it can however be equally well tilted downwards. The functioning of the apparatus is as follows The tow-rope L is first wound once round the capstan drum at L, then round the carrier roller 9, back to the capstan drum 2 round which it is again wound in the groove L2, after which it is again carried round the intermediate carrier roller 9', once more round the capstan drum in the groove L3, to the upper carrier roller 9, after which the free end is brought out clear oi the apparatus through groove L,L between the pressure roller 7 and the capstan drum 2. The threading in of the tow-rope (normally a. steel wire cord of appropriately small diameter) is carried out once and for all before delivery of the apparatus to the user, who has only to free the pawl 15 in order to be able to shorten or lengthen the tow-rope available for hauling according to the needs of the moment.

In use the two ground bars 17 and 20 are first firmly anchored by means of pegs or pins in the ground in the required position, the pitch of the capstan case is then adjusted to correspond with the direction the tow-line will take up under load and fixed in this position by means of the clamping device 23, the pawl 15 is then freed and the towline pulled through the case until the slack between the capstan case and the load has been taken up. Then by loosening the hand nut 13 the bolt 12 is allowed to move longitudinally and permits the pressure of the spiral spring 11 to be brought to bear on the carriage 10, which presses the carrier rollers 9 and 9 on the axle 8 against the pressure rollers 7 and 7 on the axle 6, with the result that the pressure rollers press the turns of the tow-line L2 L3 L,L against the capstan drum 2, and in particular the running out end L5 is firmly gripped between the upper groove of the capstan drum and the upper pressure roller 7. The pawl 15 is then engaged in the ratchet-wheel 14, and the capstan wound in the usual way by means of a crank applied to the square head 5.

In order to increase the hauling power of the capstan,'pulley blocks F can be used in connection with it (as illustrated in Fig. 3 which shows how the apparatus can be used for pulling a car A up a slope).

F or lighter loads the apparatus can be considerably simplified by reducing the number of turns round the capstan drum and the number of the pressure and carrier rollers.

The anchorage of the capstan by means of pins or pegs driven slantwise through the ground supports depends for its effectiveness upon the gripping of as great a cubic volume ofthe foundation material (earth) as possible.

The cooperation of the thus anchored capstan device with pulley blocks allows of the development of any desired hauling power within the range of the use described, and that without increasing the size and wright of the apparatus beyond the limits within which it is possible for one man to carry and mount it. F or the purpose of attaching pulley blocks the anchorage supports of the capstan device are provided with means for making fast the hook of a pulley block.

I claim 1. In a capstan, a casing, a capstan drum journalled in said casing, a cable trained over said drum, carrier rollers mounted for rotary and radial movement in said casing and also having the cable trained thereover leading from the capstan drum, and pressure rollers mounted for rotary and radial movement in the casing and interposed between the rollers and theycapstan drum and enclosed within the portion of the cable extending between the carrier rollers and the drum, said pressure rollers being brought into frictional engagement with the portion of the cable engaging the capstan drum when the cable is tensioned.

2. In a capstan, a casing, a capstan drum journalled in said casing, a cable trained over said drum, carrier rollers mounted for rotary and radial movement in said casing and also having the cable trained thereover leading from the capstan drum, and pressure rollers mounted for rotary and radial movement in the casing and interposed between the rollers and the capstan drum and enclosed within the portion of the cable extending between the carr'er rollers and the drum, said pressure rollers being brought into frictional engagement with the portion of the cable engaging the capstan drum when the cable is tensioned, said pressure rollers being of less diameter than the capstan drum and carrier rollers and disposed out of engagement with the cable.

U 3. In a capstan, a casing, a. capstan drum ",ournalled in said casing, a cable trained over said drum, carrier rollers mounted for rotary and radial movement in said casing and also having the cable trained thereover leading from the capstan drum, and pressure rollers mounted for rotary and radial movelOO ment in the casing and interposed between the rollers and the capstan drum and enclosed within the portion of the cable extending between the carrier rollers and the drum, said pressure rollers being brought into frictional engagement with the portion of the cable engaging the capstan drum when the cable is tensioned, and pressure exerting means acting on certain of the rollers tending to displace the pressure rollers in the direction of the capstan drum.

4. In a capstan, a casing, a capstan drum j ournalled in said casing, a cable trained over said drum, carrier rollers mounted for rotary and radial movement in said casing and also having the cable trained thereover leading from the capstan drum, and pressure rollers mounted for rotary and radial movement in the. casing and interposed between the rollers and the capstan drum and enclosed within the portion of the cable extending between the carrier rollers and the drum, said pressure rollers being brought into frictional engagement with the portion of the cable engaging the capstan drum when the cable is tensioned, and pressure exerting means acting on certain of the rollers tending to displace the pressure rollers in the direction of the capstan drum, and means 'for adjustablv limiting the movement of the rollers under the influence of the pressure exerting means. Y 5. In a capstan, a casing, a capstan drum journalled in said casing, a cable trained over said drum, carrier rollers mounted for rotary andradial movement in said casing and also having the cable trained thereover leading from the capstan drum, and pressure rollers mounted for rotary and radial movement in the casing and interposed between the rollers and the capstan drum and enclosed within the portion of the cable extending between the carrier rollers and the drum, said pressure rollers being brought into frictional enga gement with the portion of the cable engaging the capstan drum when the cable is tensi oned, and means tiltably supporting the casing for adjustment about an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of the capstan drum.

6. In a capstan, a casing, a capstan drum journalled in said casing, a cable trained over said drum, carrier rollers mounted for rotary and radial movement in said casing and also having the cable trained thereover leading from the capstan drum, and pressure rollers mounted `for rotary and radial movement in the casing and interposed between the rollers and the capstan drum and enclosed within the portion of the cable extending between the carrier rollers and the drum, said pressure rollers being brought into frictional engagement with the portion of the cable engaging the capstan drum when the cable is tensioned, a member partially embracing the casing, and a supporting member passing throughthe embracing member permitting the casing to tilt about an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of the capstan drum.

7. In a capstan, a casing, a capstan drum journalled in said casing, a cable trained over said drum, carrier rollers mounted for rotary and radial movement in said casing and also having the cable trained thereover leading from the capstan drum, and pressure rollers mounted for rotary and radial movement in the casing and interposed between the rollers and the capstan drum and enclosed within the portion of the cable extending between the carrier rollers and the drum, said pressure rollers being brought into'frictional engagement with the portion of the cable engaging the capstan drum when the cable is tensioned, a member partially embracing the casing, and a supporting member passing through the embracing member permitting the casing to tilt about an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of the capstan drum, and means for attaching the supporting member to a support.

8. A device o the character described, a casing, al capstan drum journalled therein, carrier rollers, a cable trained over the drum and passing over the carrier rollers, and pressure rollers interposed between the carrier rollers and the capstan drum, the pressure rollers being engaged at one side with the 105 exterior surfaces of the carrier rollers and at the opposite side with the portion of the cable trained over the capstan drum.

9. A device of the character described, a casing, a capstan drum journalled therein, 110 carrier rollers, a cable trained over the drum and passing over the carrier rollers, and pressure rollers interposed between the carrier rollers and the capstan drum, the pressure rollers being engaged at one side with the ex- 115 terior surfaces of the carrier rollers and at the opposite side with the portion of the cable trained over the capstan drum, and adjustable means for exerting variable pressure on the carrier rollers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANZ BELT. 

